Congratulations to two above-and-beyond SPH superstars: On Sept. 9, Melvin Seale and Joanne Klossner each won the Provost’s Excellence Award for Professional Track Faculty, presented at the 43rd Annual University of Maryland Faculty and Staff Convocation.
In more than 30 years in higher education, half of them at the School of Public Health, Department of Kinesiology Senior Lecturer Joanne Klossner stands out as a mentor both to students and faculty colleagues—one who is dedicated to developing allied and public health practitioners and leaders of all ages.
"Dr. Klossner has a deep passion and commitment to teaching. It is much more than a job; it is her mission," says Michael Brown, professor and chair of the Department of Kinesiology, calling her "an example of what we all aspire to be as educators."
Klossner designs and teaches undergraduate courses related to applied anatomy and athletic healthcare, serves as an undergraduate academic adviser, is co-coordinator of the Department of Kinesiology's internship program and chairs its Learning Outcomes Committee. Students consistently rave about her engaging and supportive classroom environment.
Klossner was selected by her peers this year as an inaugural SPH leadership fellow for faculty affairs. Previously, she was a leadership fellow for the UMD ADVANCE Program for Inclusive Excellence.
"I am continuously impressed by Joanne's outstanding insights regarding innovative ways to grow our faculty by strengthening their teaching and student interactions," says Robin Puett, former professor and associate dean for research and faculty affairs for the School of Public Health. "Even before her leadership fellow experience, I observed a number of SPH faculty regularly consulting her for teaching and mentoring guidance and support."
A member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association Public Health Committee, Klossner led the recent development of a survey to assess the level at which athletic trainers engage in essential public health services. She also served for several years as an associate editor of the Athletic Training Education Journal.
She earned her B.S. in athletic training at Indiana University, M.A. in the same at the University of North Carolina and her Ph.D. in curriculum studies at Indiana, and is a certified athletic trainer. She came to UMD in 2014, where her research on topics like the impact of service learning on education and the professional socialization of pre-service students has informed her teaching and curriculum development efforts.
A healthcare administration educator, Department of Health Policy and Management Associate Clinical Professor Melvin Seale made an outsize commitment to connecting academic learning with professional application while building programs in the School of Public Health that reflect innovation, equity and relevance.
"His ability to connect academic learning with professional application has strengthened our department, improved student experiences and raised the visibility of our programs," says Jie Chen, professor and chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management.
In SPH, Seale develops and teaches courses in healthcare, human resources, financial management, analytics and information systems. He uses simulations to cultivate students' leadership and problem-solving skills, has them work directly with electronic health record systems, and introduces them to digital tools they will use in healthcare analytics and data-informed decision making. Students consistently praise his energy, empathy and the safe, rigorous environment he creates in the classroom.
Outside the classroom, he has developed and led a number of workforce initiatives that directly support student readiness and employment outcomes. "He does not just teach public health management; he immerses students in the technologies, leadership frameworks and decision-making tools they will need to succeed as healthcare professionals," says Luisa Franzini, professor of health policy and management.
Seale is also the director of graduate studies in his department, where he has revitalized the department's internship and capstone programs, launched certification programs, led workshops such as "What Can I Do With This Degree" and developed a robust job placement tracking system that has led to improved career outcomes.
Seale's commitment to teaching goes beyond campus, exemplified in his creation of a pharmacy benefit management program for industry professionals, work with local law enforcement on mental wellness initiatives, and partnership with the Universities Allied for Essential Medicines, helping students develop advocacy skills.
A registered health information administrator who is certified in clinical coding classification systems and AI for healthcare, he earned a Doctor of Health Science from A.T. Still University, a Master of Arts in teaching from Marygrove College and a Bachelor of Science in health information management.
Read the Maryland Today article about all the awardees.